TON B T MIL ULL EA ET R IN G August 2019 Published by the Parish Council No. 545
The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 1 Parish Council Publication Scheme (Freedom of Information Act) Residents of the Parish can see the records of the Council held by the Parish Clerk or learn where they may be accessed. These records include minutes, financial information, and responses to planning consultations. Applications can be made to the Parish Clerk and documents viewed by appointment. Any copies required will be charged at 10p per page.
Great Milton Parish Council
Chairman: Stephen Harrod 01844 278068 Ward: Church Road to Monkery Farm/The Priory Vice Chairman: Bill Fox 01844 279716 Ward: Thame Road, inc Fullers Field and Green Hitchings Councillor: Peter Fewell 01844 279400 Ward: The Green from Priory Bank to Tara/Applewood Councillor: Clyde Deacon 01844 278554 Ward: High Street from North End Cottage to The Old Garage Councillor: George Bennett 07482 339905 Ward: Thame Road from Green Hitchings to A329 Councillor: Gwen Harris 07401 399489 Ward: Kings Head House/Red Roofs to Wheatley Boundary Councillor: Peter Allen 01844 278334 Ward: Milton Common
Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer: Tim Darch – 01844 278347 [email protected]
Parish Council Representatives Rec Ground Committee: Michael Robinson, Michele Block Old Field Charity: Hazel Hand, Niki Patrick Hard Surface Play Area: Susan Read, Jon Devitt Neighbourhood Watch: Jola Miziniak Kent & Couling Charity: — Sheppard Trust: Ann Price, Pat Cox
The village in full bloom. Photo: Carole Greenhalgh.
2 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin Key Contacts: Local Governance Oxfordshire County Council 01865 792422 Oxfordshire.gov.uk South Oxfordshire District Council 01235 422422 Southoxon.gov.uk County Councillor: Stephen Harrod 01844 278068 [email protected] District Councillor: Caroline Newton 07951 477144 [email protected] Great Milton Parish Council Stephen Harrod (Chair) 01844 278068 Tim Darch (Clerk) 01844 278347 [email protected] Report potholes, fly-tipping, vandalism, broken paving Fixmystreet.com OCC Family Information Service 08452 262636 [email protected] OCC Highways 0845 310 1111 [email protected] Missed Bin Collection 03000 610610 [email protected] Bulky Household Waste Collection 01235 422406 [email protected] SODC Housing 01235 422422 [email protected] SODC Planning Applications 01235 422600 [email protected] Services Emergency - Police, Fire, Ambulance 999 Police non-emergency 101 thamesvalley.police.uk GP Surgery, Morland House 01865 872448 morland-house.co.uk NHS non-emergency 111 nhs.uk Gas Emergency 0800 111 999 nationalgrid.com/uk/safety/ Electricity Outage 0800 072 7282 sse.co.uk Burst pipe or leak 0800 714 614 thameswater.co.uk Floodline 0345 988 1188 gov.uk/check-flood-risk Local information St. Mary's Church: Rev. Simon Cronk [email protected] Methodist Church: Rev. Adam Stevenson 01491 613223 Neighbourhood Watch: Jola Miziniak 07917 676463 [email protected] Citizens Advice Oxfordshire 03444 111 444 caox.org.uk The Maple Tree Children's Centre 01865 873916 [email protected] Great Milton Neighbours Hall 01844 278415 Great Milton Pavilion & Recreation Ground 01844 278116 Great Milton Website [email protected] http://www.greatmilton.co.uk Great Milton Bulletin 07554 516989 [email protected] [email protected] Great Milton Primary School 01844 279388 gmilton.org Wheatley Park School 01865 872441 www.wheatleypark.org Transport Comet - for people without access to 01865 323201 oxfordshire.gov.uk/comet suitable public transport Arriva (280) Bus 0344 800 4411 arrivabus.co.uk Oxford Tube (Buses to London) 01865 772250 oxfordtube.com Park & Ride oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/public-site/parkandride National Rail Enquiries 03457 484950 nationalrail.co.uk
The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 3 Draft Parish Notes – July 2019
Present at the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 15th July were Cllrs S Harrod (Chairman), W Fox (Vice-Chairman), P Allen, C Deacon, and P Fewell, plus Tim Darch (Clerk) and one member of the public. Apologies were received from Cllrs G Harris and G Bennet. The minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 17th June were signed and approved as an accurate record of proceedings. The County Councillor’s and District Councillor’s monthly reports were received by the meeting and are available via the Parish Council website. Planning applications For transparency the Clerk advised that planning application P19/S1864/HH related to his own property. P19/S1864/HH (Midsummer Cottage, Church Road, Great Milton). Demolition of unused garage and erection of single storey garden room outbuilding. After discussion and consideration of a neighbour’s objection to the plans as presented, the Parish Council RESOLVED that it held NO STRONG VIEWS on this application, though sympathetic to the neighbour’s opinion and mindful that the planning authority may have similar concerns, particularly regarding windows which overlook the garden of the neighbouring property. P19/S1910/DIS (Welcome Break Oxford Thame Road Waterstock). Discharge of conditions 4 - Construction Traffic Management and 5 - Surface water drainage works (details required) to application P19/S0013/FUL. Extension to existing HGV park and associated works. (As amplified by additional drainage information received 24 January 2019 and Swept Path Analysis drawing received 15 February 2019). FOR INFORMATION: NO CONSULTATION ON DISCHARGE OF CONDITIONS. The following planning decisions have been received and were reviewed: P19/S1365/FUL (Crofts Furlong Farm, Lower End, Great Milton, Oxford OX44 7NJ). Demolition of 2no. existing outbuildings and erection of a tennis pavilion. Planning permission is GRANTED for the works described above. P18/S2995/FUL and P18/S2996/FUL (Lobb Farm, Tetsworth, Oxon OX9 7BE). The proposed development is for a Gas Fired Electricity Generating Facility with the ability to generate up to 49.99 MW of electricity. APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO DETERMINATION. NOTE: Both applications for power generation facilities located between Milton Common and Tetsworth have now been withdrawn.
4 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin Financial Resolutions The following payments were authorised: Tim Darch. Salary, Tax and Expenses July and August. £434.90/£436.90 Jonathan Dudley. Bulletin production July. £250.50 Green and Growing. Grass cutting May: £546 SODC Dog Bin emptying £65.48 SODC uncontested election fee: £100 South Central Ambulance Service: donation for AED/CPR training. £150. The monthly reconciliation and bank statement were received and the Parish Council accounts for the last month approved. The reconciled bank balance as at 3 July 2019 was £26,550.92 The receipt of a refund from HMRC of £952.63 VAT incurred in 2018-19 was noted. The receipt of £460 from Oxfordshire County Council from its Councillor Priority Fund, as a contribution towards refurbishment of the bus shelter at Milton Common was noted. Contractors have been advised to begin work. Clerk’s update of matters in hand The following outcomes resulted from a site visit from an OCC Highways Officer following issues raised by various residents at the May meeting • Parking at the Lower End bend. Officer felt that impact on residents parking, informal traffic calming effect from parked cars, no history of accidents, urbanisation effect of yellow lines and lack of enforcement meant that parking restrictions were probably not justified. • Restoration of several ‘Slow’ markings on Windmill Hill. Noted and to be actioned. • Windmill Hill 60mph limit vs A329 50 mph limit. There are many ‘unrestricted’ inhabited country roads all over the country, and many ‘A’ roads with 50mph stretches imposed on safety grounds so this situation is not unusual. Relatively few instances of excess speed have been observed on Windmill Hill, so no change likely. • Suggested signage at A329 Windmill Hill turn directing motorists to M40 north via A329. Officer felt that much of this traffic will be from local commuters adopting what they believe is the quickest way to the M40 north, or non- locals being directed by Sat Nav. In both instances signage is unlikely to change behaviour, plus there is no obvious place to locate signage where it would be sufficiently visible. • Short ‘unrestricted’ stretches on entering Thame Road/Church Road from A329. Legally required: only alternative is to reduce speed limit to 30mph at the junction, but unlikely to be justified given no evidence of accidents on these short stretches of road and high cost. F The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 5 • Thame Road/A329 junction. Foliage trimmed to improve visibility for vehicles exiting Thame Road. Training in use of the defibrillator and in CPR took place on Saturday 6 July, hosted by South Central Ambulance Service first responders Andy Long and Patsie Ellestone. The training was very informative and was gratefully received: a further session may be organised later in the year. The guardian of the defibrillator needs to be identified or appointed: the Clerk will follow this up. There is currently no Bulletin published in September, largely because there is no August Parish Council meeting to report. There have been requests for a September Bulletin to enable advance publicity of events taking place in September, but after due consideration the Parish Council agreed that there was little justification for an additional Bulletin at this time, and that as a result this would not proceed. Chris Kitashima MBE The Clerk received a telephone message expressing disappointment that Chris Kitashima’s MBE had not been publicly acknowledged by the Parish Council. The Parish Council wishes to apologise for this oversight and to congratulate Chris on the recent award of an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to fostering in Oxfordshire. Chris has fostered for 27 years: this recognition is richly deserved as a result of her positive contribution to the lives of many vulnerable youngsters over the years and her role in the community. The meeting closed at 7.55pm. The next meeting of Great Milton Parish Council will be held on Monday 16th September starting at 7.30pm in The Pavilion. The Clerk remains available should there be any issues during the two-month hiatus between meetings.
Thirty-third sponsored Ride and Stride Saturday 14 September 2019, 10.00 - 5.00pm
Since the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust was founded, grants totalling several million pounds have been made to churches in Oxfordshire. A significant proportion of this money has been raised by the annual ride and strides so it is a productive cause to support. We would love to see cyclists, walkers and horse riders taking part. If you wish to cycle around as many churches as possible on the day, Bill Fox is leading the cycling route this year. It is usually a fun day. We also need welcomers in our church ( an hour shift greeting visitors and offering them drinks). If you wish to participate or be a welcomer in our church, please contact Clare Blakeway-Phillips on 278475.
6 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin Services in Our Benefice for August
St. Mary the Virgin St. James’s St. Peter’s Great Milton Little Milton Great Haseley Sunday 4th Holy Communion BCP Holy Communion CW Family Service Trinity 7 8:00am 9:30am 11:00am Sunday 11th Holy Communion CW Family Service Holy Communion BCP Trinity 8 9:30am 11:00am 8:00am Teddy Bear Picnic Sunday 18th Holy Communion BCP Holy Communion CW The Rectory Trinity 9 8:00am 9:30am 11:00am Benefice Service CW Sunday 25th at Rycote Trinity 10 10:00am
Services in Our Benefice for September
St. Mary the Virgin St. James’s St. Peter’s Great Milton Little Milton Great Haseley Sunday 1st Holy Communion BCP Holy Communion CW Family Service Trinity 11 8:00am 9:30am 11:00am Sunday 8th Holy Communion CW Family Service Holy Communion BCP Trinity 12 9:30am 11:00am 8:00am Sunday 15th Harvest Festival Service Holy Communion BCP Holy Communion CW Trinity 13 11:00am 8:00am 9:30am Sunday 22nd Holy Communion BCP Harvest Festival Service Trinity 14 8:00am 5:00pm
Sunday 29th Benefice Communion CW Trinity 15 10:00am
Services in Our Benefice for October
St. Mary the Virgin St. James’s St. Peter’s Great Milton Little Milton Great Haseley Sunday 6th Holy Communion BCP Holy Communion CW Harvest Festival Service Trinity 16 8:00am 9:30am 11:00am
The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 7 (Non) Ramblings from the Rectory
I am taking a month off from trying to come up with anything thought provoking or profound! I do want to wish those who might be taking a break away in August a happy and safe time. Cath and I and our dog Dylan have just returned from a holiday touring around Wales. We had a wonderful time visiting old haunts and discovering some new and I was able to bag one of the three thousand foot peaks in Snowdownia, Y Garn, via the aptly named Devil’s kitchen! It was a great walk but the mountain sadly was in cloud at the top. Nonetheless it satisfied my desire to get up something high, and the views below the cloud base were of course spectacular. I do though want to briefly plug something simple we are doing in August in Great Milton. Instead of the regular all age family service on 18th August we will be holding a Teddy Bear’s Picnic in the Rectory Garden. Please see the details below. If people want to come and stay on for a proper picnic lunch from mid day onwards they are most welcome to. This is open to all, young and old alike from all the villages. Should the weather not behave we will simply move to do something back in St Mary’s. Please do come along, and bring your Teddy Bear! Also, there is a special Benefice Service on Sun 25 August at Rycote Chapel. All are invited and if you haven’t been before it is a lovely event in a wonderful and unique setting. We are very grateful to Bernard and Sarah Taylor for hosting us. Simon Teddy Bears Picnic
Sunday 18th August 11 am
Games - Treasure Hunt - Songs and Story
The Rectory Garden, The Forties, Great Milton
All are invited, young and Old
Light refreshments will be provided
Please do bring a Teddy Bear, and a picnic to enjoy from 12.00 noon onwards
8 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin Great Milton Bellringers
Graham Griffiths Graham passed away peacefully on Sunday July 21st 2019. He was our Tower Captain for over 20 years. We send our sincere sympathy to Penny and to all his family. There will be a fuller tribute later. We will miss him. GMB
Great Milton Methodist Church Services For further info. please contact Rev Canon Dr Martin Wellings on 01865 243216
August Date Time Church Preacher Comments 4th 11:00am Gt. Milton Paul Rosentall 11th 11:00am Gt. Milton Judy Turner-Smith 18st 11:00am At Watlington Holy Communion 25th 11:00am Gt. Milton John Anderson Holy Communion
Great Milton Church Fete 2019
Our Fete was quite a challenge to set up this year due to unusually windy damp weather. The logistics team rose to the occasion and did a marvellous job. Unfortunately we lost a few gazebos in the process! As ever, thank you all so much for helping and or supporting it. We are extremely grateful to those of you who donated items to sell or for the raffle, Morgan Associates who advertised the event and the village shop who advertised, sold raffle tickets and counted the money! As a result of all your support, we made £5,600. This was down on last year (which was exceptionally good) but still great considering the elements we were up against. The raffle tickets made the most they had ever raised. Special thanks must be given to our hard working stall holders who collected and sold their goods, the professional looking pub BBQ, tea and bar teams, car park organiser, those who set the scene with bunting, flags etc and those who organised events in the arena or displays. We were delighted to welcome Sarah Taylor from Rycote Park who opened F The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 9 the proceedings and Benoit Blin from Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons for a second year running to judge our cake competition “Fairytales" . The exhibits were wonderful and there were prizes in 4 age categories. In the arena we were pleased the school children could show off their dancing again. The children’s tug of war was once again very competitive as was the dog show! Well done to those who won any of the amazing raffle prizes or the prizes on the tombola, hoopla, games and dog show. Unfortunately Hamish Ogston’s hot air balloon could not be set up but vintage car rides provided amusement instead. A HUGE thanks go to the three men who collected and returned the furniture/ infrastructure and to the helpers who put up gazebos in the morning, and then took everything down and put all away at the end; to the friend who put up and then took down the big notice-boards locally and to the friend who provided so many straw bales. The Watlington Concert Band always enjoy playing for us and are already looking forward to coming next year. Finally, a huge thank you to our Master of Ceremonies for guiding us through the day. Nick Belcher took photos that really captured the event so hopefully you will be able to view these. To add to the excitement of the day we were able to announce Chris Kitashima’s MBE for her services to fostering - greatly deserved. If you would like to join the Fete Committee next year, do let us know. We would welcome new ideas. Thank you again for your support. Clare Blakeway-Phillips, Alex Kirkman, Celina Bernstrom, Rachel Hutton and Graham Orriss (organisers on behalf of Great Milton PCC).
Thank You
On Tuesday 16th July we celebrated our 70th Wedding Anniversary and wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kind wishes and to members of St. Mary’s for the lovely bouquet of flowers and beautiful card, signed by many friends and acquaintances. With family and close friends we enjoyed a most memorable day. Thank you all again. Sincerely, Ron and Evelyn Rogers
10 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin Do You Have a Spare Gazebo?
The weather was challenge during the Fete this year. Unfortunately, 6 of our gazebos broke as did our large one. Someone in the village was going to try to repair the 6 pop up frames but then someone took them! This will make quite a dent in our funds so if anyone has a spare gazebo they could donate for the Fete, it would be greatly appreciated. Pop up ones are preferred by the team who set up. Or you might like to sponsor one?
Great Milton History in The Community Room
This is a summer of massive fundraising in Great Milton. The Church Tower, the Neighbours Hall, the School plus many smaller (but no less important) causes. This village is generous, and very good at raising money. To clarify the position of the GM History, we regard our function as keeping the collection of memorabilia safe, and where possible, adding new donations. Boxes and map tubes have to be bought, IT maintained and photocopies provided on request. There are only four regular helpers. We produce brief illustrated booklets (one pending!) based on the collection, and Jonathan Dudley edits and prints these. Recently we reprinted the Blakeston Survey – our most expensive publication to date. The Sheppard Trust kindly funded this rerun, for which we thank them, and the Parish Council has paid the insurance for the Community Room, which includes the technical content – for which more thanks. We pay an annual fee to the pub for heating etc, and really have no access to funds other than recovering expenditure through sales. Prices are kept low so that anyone interested can afford to buy. This is merely an explanation of the purpose and funding of this small organisation. GMH
The Neighbours Hall
By the time you read this the refurbishing of the hall will have started, the scaffolding will be up and the builders will be on site. We would like to offer our grateful thanks to those of you who gave so generously at the Big Bash for the School in July enabling a £1000 to be added to our funds. Thanks, as well, to the many of you who have given to the project so far. We hope to F The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 11 be able to thank you in person at a Cutting Edge Big Band Concert planned for 12th October (keep the date). The work as a whole would not be possible without the support of WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Limited) via their Landfill Communities Fund and the South Oxfordshire District Council via their capital grants funding. Applying for grants is a demanding process, but being awarded a grant does ensure that funded projects are accountable. We hope that the refurbishment will widen the use of the hall: a film club, a village library and a co-working space have all been suggested, and all should be possible. Just in case you are moved to contribute (we still need funds!) please tell Christine Donnelly in the post office. Should you want to gift aid your donation this can be done via Great MIlton Parochial Church Council. Tony Jefferis
Senior Citizens Party Committee
Harvest Festival This will be held at The Bull Inn on Saturday 7th September. Produce will be accepted at The Bull from mid-day with judging taking place at 2:00pm approx. The evening’s events will start at 6:30pm with a short Thanksgiving service followed by the “iconic” auction of produce. Ann Price, Secretary
Big Summer Bash July 6th 2019
The Big Summer Bash this year, kindly hosted by Robert and Catherine Peers at Views Farm was a resounding success. Woodstock Festival came to mind as the first steady trickle of hippies and bohemians arrived. The very strong cocktails, Cosmic Baby and Dark n’ Stormy were flowing from early on and by the time the band Tequila King strummed its first chord, the dance floor was filling up. The Committee (Cat Peers, Celina Bernstrom, Fizzy Kemp, Laura Putt and Rachel Hutton) were keen this year to create an all- inclusive village event for young and old to enjoy. We were overwhelmed by the response with over 250 tickets sold and over £6000 raised. The majority of this amount will go to Great Milton School, with other
12 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin donations to the Neighbours Hall refurbishment, defibrillator training and an amount towards the Senior Citizens Party. We would like to give special thanks to Paul Lawrence for his wonderful stage set up and lighting, Niv Adiri DJ extraordinaire, Wheatley Farm Shop for their kind donation of fabulous plants, Rob Peers for his endless hard work in clearing the barn, Colin Putt and Zoe Wilks for providing the hog roast and Greenplant for their help with equipment. These events cannot run without the help of a special few. The date for next years event will be June 27th 2020. We hope many more of you can come and support a wonderful village fundraiser and an incredibly fun night in your community. However, you have been warned about the cocktails!!! Big Summer Bash Committee
Old Field Barbecue
The annual Old Field BBQ on the 20th July. Perfect BBQ weather and a chance to chat and catch up for the regulars and those that dropped by.
The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 13 Tug of War – Great Milton vs Little Milton vs Great Haseley Saturday Aug 31, 2pm till late
This is our first inter-village tug of war which we hope will become any annual event. The rope has been bought (by kind donation of Dave Putt) and the male and female teams are getting competitive. There will also be a chance for children to have a go. A hog roast will be on The Green as well as beer and a prosecco bar, a penny sweet stall for children and an amazing envelope draw for prizes including a one night stay with dinner at The Five Alls - an award winning pub in the Cotswolds, just south of Burford. https://thefiveallsfilkins.co.uk and a week-end at Driftwood self catering holiday bungalow in Cornwall plus other prizes. £10 wrist bands will allow you into the evening party and also discounts on the food and drink provided by us and drinks in The Bull. The evening will kick off in The Bull with our star guest, Edwina Hayes - ‘Haunting honeyed solo songwriter”. The Guardian, “The sweetest voice in England”. Nanci Griffith , A very talented young lady”. Michael Parkinson. Edwina Hayes is sponsored kindly by The Tarncourt Group. Our own DJ Niv Adiri, will finish off the evening. There will be parking in the Recreation Ground but please car share if possible. The roads between Weavers Cottage and the Bull and between Fairways and Tinkers Cottage will be closed between 2pm-6pm We hope this day is a success and that it will continue annually, rotating around the three villages, to raise funds for each of our church's required repairs or developments. If you would like to help on the day or have any queries, please contact Clare BP, Laura or Dave Putt.
View from Views
It is at this time of year when all the glories of Spring and early Summer begin to disappear with plant life loosing it’s bloom and lushness. What is fabulous is this year, after some 5 years the wildflowers we planted have been alive with a variety of butterflies, months, and all other insects and invertebrates. It is a real joy to see that at last we may be making a difference to these important species. By the time this is read some of our harvest will be gathered in and we shall have some idea what effect the weather has had on yield. I am still astonished how well all
14 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin crops are looking, the weather now is critical. The rain in June must have helped a great deal but even up to then everything seemed to be in good heart. Now most crops look as if they will exceed all expectations, somehow this growing season has been plain sailing, as every time a task needed to be done it was possible to do it, never known this before. Probably as soon as the harvesters start to move the rain will start and never stop until all is safely gathered in (Murphy’s Law). Not only has it been a good year for getting on with jobs but with being so dry there has been little or no disease, keeping our costs down. There has been a lot in the press just lately about us having to care for the soil and that if we don’t we only have another 50 or so years before disaster strikes. Whoever thought that we do not care about our soils must be mad, do they not think that we are not aware how important our natural resource is. We must not forget that farmers have tilled the soil in this area for 100’s of years with yields ever increasing something we must have got something right. One could argue that one of the reasons for crops to be flourishing is due to soil conditions, so as another step to improving soil conditions we have this year grown all our crops without the use of a plough, as with the use of ever increasing size and weight of machinery subsoil was becoming compacted, this would affect drainage and not allow root penetration to any depth, which cannot be the case this season. Of course there are pressures on us to produce more and at less cost, so that the consumer can afford food, which in turn forces us down certain paths that perhaps may not F The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 15 be beneficial to either the health of the soil or the quality of the produce. I think though that farmers understand that this can only continue for a short while, and as soon as things seem to be going in the wrong direction we alter course. There are suggestions that the big supermarkets will be installing green walls in their stores, these will grow types of veg and fruit artificially in the vertical, this means that you the customer will be able to pick your own whilst shopping, no plastic, or delivery charge, also you will know it’s origin, probably will not be very tasty or have much nutritional value, but never mind it won’t have been grown on land that can then be rewilded! We are constantly being bombarded with the theory that eating red meat is bad for the planet, this may be the case for meat that is produced intensively and not on grass, animals have been grazing this earth for a very long time and belching and everything else they do, it is the beef lots of North America that are the problem, it is not our animals eating grass that are the problem. We do though have to be careful, as the alternative to grazing/eating red meat is to grow vast acres of Maize and Soya, which requires a system of agriculture that is at the moment destroying the forests of South America, not sure this is the way we should go. We cannot get away from the fact that the biggest threat to the planet is the Human being as there are too many of us. Interestingly I have just read a report in the agricultural press, where an Oxford Professor (must be right) has said that methane produced by animals will ultimately cool the atmosphere and that farmers had already played a big part in reducing it emissions, this is of course good news if it is true, nice to think we are doing something right for once. To be honest I do not understand his thinking. Also by the time this is published we shall know if it is Boris or Jeremy (Hunt (I hope not the other)) one thing I would hope whoever it is can get a grip on the excesses of this life, the excessive pay that some seem to attract cannot be right, when we have people that cannot afford to put a roof over their heads or feed their children. With the country unable to provide the services we all need. No wonder there is unrest in the population, probably at the root of knifings, littering, drug taking, stealing, and many others, creating a don’t care attitude, you cannot blame some people saying why should I care someone else better off than I can pay for that etc! “This simply has to be tackled”. Recently I read or rather had read out to me, a piece from some country magazine that JCB, the tractor and digger manufacturer, had just beaten the land speed record for a tractor, over 100 MPH. Just what use this is remains to be seen, but the thought of a tractor doing 100 MPH over our fields, getting work done in next to no time at all makes the mind boggle. Charles Peers
16 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin Little Milton W.I.
Thank you to Claire for her very professional talk and demonstration about her printmaking business. The members were so inspired they booked straight on to a workshop at Claire’s studio in Stadhampton. You can too at www.linocutworkshops.com On Thursday 8th August we are planning a day trip to the Bodleian Library by minibus. Please let me know if you’d like to come as I'll need to book tickets and the bus. Do you live in Little Milton, Great Milton or The Haseleys, want to meet new people, get out the house, make new friends? Then join Little Milton WI and meet like-minded, local women of all ages in an informal, friendly group. Too shy to come by yourself? Contact me & I’ll find you a WI buddy. Like us at www.facebook.com/lmpinelodge Details & news on the Pine Lodge page at www.littlemilton.org.uk Kath Stacey 279438 or email [email protected]
News from The Pine Lodge
We’re having a Summer break from events in preparation for an Autumn of quizzes, crafts, fireworks and new classes. Leone is back in September with weekly acting and theatre sessions for adults. Natasha from Toddler Sense is returning from maternity leave, plus we have a new advanced textile class with Amarjeet Nandhra (already sold out!). There are still vacancies on the committee and we especially need a new treasurer. Are you a book-keeper or accountant who could spare some time to help us? Please contact us if you are interested in joining the committee or helping with events. No previous experience is needed. Regular activities include: Craft Club on the third Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm (21 Aug) Yoga & Fitness with Yvonne on Mondays at 10.30am Pilates with Lee on Wednesdays at 6pm and Fridays at 9.30am Upcoming events: Horticultural Show - Saturday 24 August Quiz Night - Saturday 28 September 7pm Like us at www.facebook.com/lmpinelodge Details & news on the Pine Lodge page at www.littlemilton.org.uk Melanie Kinghan 278774 / Linda Lovegrove 279535 [email protected]
The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 17 Great Haseley and District Horticultural Society
I have just reviewed my article for this time last year and found a similar period of very dry weather. Today, though, it has rained a significant amount and all the water butts are full again. Unfortunately, the complete lack of water stores on the veg patch means we have lost a number of sowings of young vegetables. Life should be easier for a few days now, but I note that temperatures are reaching into the thirties next week again so we will soon be short again. I rather confidently told you last year that there was no need to worry about brown dead looking lawns and that they would soon green up again. In my experience lawns are always cured by the following spring. After the heat of last summer and a mild winter we had a lot of bare patches on the lawn which, despite several attempts at resowing, have still not greened up. We even bought new lawn seed in case the seed was dead, but to no avail. Maybe this rain will help. I notice that the pests are settling in in the greenhouse again. Last year, as a result of my accident, we didn’t get around to removing the sad looking aubergine plants which appeared to have no functioning green tissue. These plants carried on producing aubergines and when the weather cooled as autumn advanced, new fresh growth was produced and the aubergines just kept coming; a very impressive result indeed so I won’t be in a rush to remove these plants when the inevitable red spider mite sets in. The aubergines are already cropping well this year. Other survivors of last winter were some large specimen tender Fuchsias. I am looking forward to them flowering as I thought I had lost the whole lot. What a treat that will be. This year, due to some losses through general neglect over the winter, I did have fewer plants in pots than is usual. I bought only two new plants, Marguerites which I can’t resist. They will flower all summer if you keep up with the dead heading which, so far, I am managing to do. Summer bedding and colourful pots must be regularly dead headed, watered and fed to maintain a good show. I’m not great at keeping mixed pots going and prefer to have different plants which I can switch in and out as they look at their best and then look less good. However, it is not easy to move around large pots so some are on display for the duration of the summer. This summer we seem to have lost all our plums, all our pears and virtually all our apples. The culprits, I think, are probably finches. This year they didn’t eat the buds, but waited for flowers and tiny fruit. The birds also cleared the gooseberries while we were away. I picked some before we left and planned to pick the rest on our return, but they were all gone (probably about 7 to 8kg); normally the birds wait until they ripen
18 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin so I can only assume they were desperate so I forgive them. On the positive side, our apricot tree had masses of flower in February and the fruit will be ripe very soon – I can’t wait! Liz Moyses
Wheatley Library – 01865 875267
Our Opera in an hour event was great fun for all who participated! Thank you, Roger for your time and energy. We will be having another later in the year. Keep an eye out for details. Dates to note: Tuesdays at 16.00pm Digital development. Gain a better understanding of digital terminology, the internet and general computer usage. You will be logged onto a simple online course that you can work through at your own pace. Book Trivia events 30 questions… How many can you answer? Follow Friends of Wheatley Library on Facebook or see in library for details. 6th July – 9th September Oxfordshire Reads. Take a postcard, recommend a book and possibly win a prize. Saturday 13th July – 14th September *Space Chase Summer Reading Challenge* brought to you by the Reading Agency, the library service and Arts Council England. 4 visits to the library, 6 books to the read. We have lots of new books, crafts, characters, activities, prizes, stickers, collector folder and online game links! Come and join in the challenge. Wednesday 7 August Speaker event. Jane Stubbs is the author of Thornfield Hall. It is the story of Jane Eyre, as told by the housekeeper, Mrs Fairfax. The original text is treated with respect; there are some additions but no alterations. To fit into the skin of Mrs Fairfax, Jane made the clothes the housekeeper might have worn, complete with underwear. Undressing the mannequin of Mrs Fairfax is a great ice-breaker for discussion. Jane is an experienced teacher and lecturer. 19th August Digital Summer. Details available in the library.
The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 19 Saturday 31st August Ex-library stock book sale, 40p each or 3 for £1 Saturday 28th September Ex-library stock book sale 40p each or 3 for £1 Regular Friends of Wheatley Library events: The regular groups will be taking a break over August with an additional craft group starting in September on Monday afternoons. Wheatley Reading Group The Wheatley reading group has a few spaces available for anyone looking to join a group. The books they read cover a broad range of genres from thrillers to classics to non-fiction to light reads. There is always something to enjoy in each book and something to discuss at the meetings. If you are interested, please leave you details with a member of library staff and the group leader will get in contact with you. Thanks all, staff and volunteers of Wheatley Library
Men ACWY Vaccination
Are you heading to university in September? Have you had your MenACWY vaccine? What is MenACWY? The MenACWY vaccine (also known as Nimenrix) protects against four strains of the meningococcal bacteria that cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning): A, C, W and Y. Meningitis is a potentially life threatening infection of the protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord and it can cause septicaemia if left untreated. The vaccination is a single injection to the upper arm. Am I eligible for the vaccine? The vaccine is offered to teenagers, as well as first-time college and university students who have not already had the vaccine. Most teenagers will have it in year 9 (aged 13-14) in school. However, if you have not had it and any of the below apply to you, we strongly recommend you book in for your free vaccination as soon as possible: • If you were born between September 1 1998 and August 31 1999 • If you were born on or after September 1 1996, and missed your routine or catch up vaccination, you remain eligible up to your 25th birthday • If you are going to university or college for the first time, including overseas and mature students, you remain eligible up to your 25th birthday
20 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin If you would like to book in for the vaccination, or you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact Morland House Surgery on 01865 872448. Where can I find out more information? The NHS website has in-depth information on both meningitis and the MenACWY vaccine specifically. Visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/men-acwy-vaccine/ or search ‘MenACWY’ on the NHS homepage.
Are We Giving Red Kites a Bad Name?
The Problem: Incidents of Red Kites snatching food from people who are eating outdoors is increasing. Their habit of gathering in large numbers has led some people to claim that there are too many of them. They should be left to feed naturally in the wider countryside, thus enabling them to find a naturally sustainable level. Red kites can survive well in the Chilterns without artificial feeding, so it is not necessary to supplement their diet. It is feared that providing too much additional food can prevent the population from spreading naturally and cause the birds to cluster in large numbers, where food is offered. The Reason: In the early years of the reintroductions, Kites were very wary of people, but since large numbers of people now regularly encourage them into their gardens with food, Kites have come to expect food from people and have become much bolder around us, leading to an increase in the number of unwelcome interactions. The fact that they gather where food is available is not unnatural, but they are unable to differentiate between food that is deliberately being offered to them, and food that is being consumed by people outdoors. The volume of supplementary food being offered to Red Kites may now be at such a level in parts of the Chilterns that it is encouraging them to breed at unsustainable levels in areas that would otherwise not be able to support them. The Solution: The advice from The Chilterns Conservation Board is that if you currently feed the Kites, please gradually reduce the amount and frequency, and eventually cease altogether. This phased approach will allow the birds to spread out into the wider countryside to find alternative sources of food. If you enjoy eating outdoors and don’t want to be interrupted by Red Kites, consider sitting under a tree or using an umbrella or awning so the birds can’t see the food.
The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 21 22 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 23 JOB OPPORTUNITY LITTLE MILTON SHOP AND POST OFFICE Required part-time Post Office counter and shop assistant From the month of August 2019
Four hours per day with the occasional Saturday morning No previous experience required, full training given
For further information contact Alison Shelton on 01844 279978 Or Kevin Hunt on 07880 626299
Alternatively call into Little Milton Shop and Post Office, Thame Road Little Milton OX44 7PZ
The Three Villages Car Service
The Three Villages Car service The Community Room home of exists to help people who are having difficulty in getting to their doctors’ Great Milton History appointments. Browse the Archive Purchase Books If you have to get to your GP Study Old Maps surgery or Thame Hospital for an Contribute to the collection appointment and need help getting of village Family History there, give us a call and we will help Open on Wednesdays if we can. 11:30am – 1:00pm or by arrangement Jane Jefferis – 01844 278743 or http://www.great-milton.co.uk/ . Wendy Richardson – 01844 278479 great-milton-history/
24 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin Janet Smith – 01844 278415
BULLETIN ADVERTISING 1/4 page (w62mm x h90mm) £5 or £50 per year 1/2 page (w128mm x h90mm) £10 or £100 per year Full page (w128mm x h185mm) £20 or £200 per year Full back page colour £35 or £350 per year Adverts for community or fund-raising events can have quarter page free. Larger sizes are charged at half the normal rate. Please contact Tim Darch Midsummer Cottage, Church Road, Great Milton, Oxford OX44 7PA Tel: 01844 278347 Email: [email protected]
The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 25 26 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 27 A D OUSLEY Domestic & Commercial ELECTRICIAN All types of electrical installation work including test and inspection and certification Tel: Adam on 01844 339793 or 01865 875031 (after 6pm) Email: [email protected] Registered member of the Electrical Contractors Association
28 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 29 Wheatley Dental Practice 01865 873314
We are currently accepting new patients at our friendly local dental surgery. Please phone our receptionists or call in for more details! Tooth whitening and facial aesthetic treatments available.
Catherine Peers BDS, Alison Chapman BDS MFDS RCS Claudia Conde MClinDent(Prostho.)London Rachel Hyde RDH, Jane Smale RDH, Candy Owens RDH
96 Church Road, Wheatley, OX33 1LZ [email protected]
30 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 31 ASHURST ARCHIVES
STORAGE
• Archive and Documents • General Household • Car • Boat • Caravan • Business • Short or long term
HOLLANDS FARM GREAT MILTON Friday 9:30 to 11.30 [email protected] 07768 408389 Hayley on 01844 279016
32 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin August at Waterperry Waterperry Gardens is more than just a beautiful garden in summer bloom during August, with inspirational gardens and plants, expert advice, sumptuous food and great ideas for the home and garden, it really is the perfect place to come with family and friends. Waterperry Weird Wildlife Adventure 6th Jul-1st Sep Join us for some orienteering family fun in the gardens and be a wild explorer! Stomp, slither, hop and prowl into a magical adventure throughout the summer holidays. Follow the clues and compass directions to find the strange creatures hidden around the gardens to complete your expedition. £3.50 per child includes compass and prize! (children must be accompanied by an adult paying normal garden entrance fee of £8.50) Family Theatre The Sword in the Stone - 10th Aug, 5pm Excellent fun for all ages – with slapstick, physical humour, fast-paced multi-rolling, and a smattering of playful innuendo for the grown-ups, IKP’s The Sword in the Stone is an unmissable Outdoor Theatre treat this Summer.
The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 33 34 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin Diary Monday Vinyasa Flow Yoga – The Pavilion. 9:15am contact Hayley Bamford – 07825 794662. yogalizard.co.uk Fitness & Yoga – The Neighbours Hall. 7:30pm – 8:45pm contact Yvonne Cartwright – 01844 279205 Tuesday Athletics Club. Year 8+. 6:00–7:30pm. Horspath Sports & Athletics Ground. [email protected] Vinyasa Flow Yoga – The Pavilion. 7:30pm contact Hayley Bamford – 07825 794662. yogalizard.co.uk Bingo – Neighbours Hall. 7:45pm contact Ann Price – 01844 279474 Wednesday GM History Archive, The Community Room, The Bull. 11:30am – 1:00pm or by appointment Fitness & Yoga – The Neighbours Hall. 6:00pm – 7:15pm Thursday Kids Yoga (4–12) – The Pavilion. 3:30pm contact Hayley Bamford – 07825 794662. yogalizard.co.uk The Neighbours Club. Alternate Thursdays. contact Janet Earl – 01844 279432 Sandy Lane Farm Market. 2:00pm – 6:30pm. contact Sandy Lane Farm – 01844 279269 www.sandylanefarm.net Athletics Club. Year 4–7. 6:00–7:30pm. Horspath Sports & Athletics Ground. [email protected] Badminton – Great Milton School Hall. 7:00pm – 10:00pm contact Daphne Holland – 01844 214198 Bellringers – St. Mary’s Church Tower. 7:30pm – 9:00pm contact Pat Cox – 01844 279300. www.gm-bellringers.freeuk.com Friday Toddler & Baby Group – The Pavilion. 9:30am – 11:30am For more information contact Molly Powell – 07958 396257 Saturday Old Field: 2nd Saturday of each month. 10:15am – 12:00pm. Contact Alex Kirkman – 01844 278090 Bingo – Neighbours Hall. 7:45pm contact David Spiers – 01844 218345 August 5th Sat Freecycle at The Pavilion 10:00am 10th Tues Wheatley VPA: Flowers for Cutting at The Merry Bells 7:30pm 18th Sun Teddy Bears Picnic in The Rectory garden 11:00am 31st Sat Tug of War on The Green. Festivities continue in The Bull Inn. 2:00pm September 7th Sat Harvest Festival in The Bull Inn 2:00pm 14th Sat The Haseleys Garden Party at The Old Rectory, Great Haseley 3:00pm 16th Mon Parish Council Meeting in The Pavilion 7:30pm
All copy (except adverts) to [email protected] by 20th September 2019. Sheppard Cottage, Lychgate Lane, Great Milton, Oxford OX44 7PB. Adverts to Tim Darch Midsummer Cottage, Church Road, Great Milton, Oxford OX44 7PA. 01844 278347 • [email protected] The views expressed in this bulletin are not necessarily those of the Editor nor of the Parish Council. The Editor reserves the right not to print items submitted for publication, and to edit those which are published.
The Great Milton Bulletin www.great-milton.co.uk 35 36 www.great-milton.co.uk The Great Milton Bulletin